Clamp



Feb..`26, 1946, P. 'M AAuBERG l CLAMPL Filed Dec. 26, 1944 FIG- l FIG. 3

' Zmventor Peaer M; Halbe@ Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICEY CLAMP Peder M. Aalberg, Tacoma, Wash.

Application DecemberZG, 1944, Serial No. 569,853

2 Claims.

This invention relates to clamps for use in carpenter shops and otherplaces where it is desired to temporarily clamp pieces of wood or othermaterial together.

The objects of my invention are to produce a clamp of extreme simplicitywith only one screw and whichmay be adjusted rapidly and applied to thework quickly, and which eiectively clamps the pieces of work together.Another object is to provide a clamp which is cheap to make, easy toapply and effective in use.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms andarrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1is a side elevation of my improved clamp in use; Fig. 2 is a similarView showing the clamp being adjusted; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of therack bar, drawn on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of thelower clamping jaw.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

This clamp is intended to take the place of the common two-screw woodenclamp universally used in these shops. The clamp comprises an upper jawI, through which the clamping screw 2 freely passes. The screw 2 has ahead 3 positioned above the jaw I, An operating, lever 4 passes throughthe head 3 whereby pressure may be applied to the screw to tighten theclamp. The head 3 is provided with a groove 5 extending around it. Akeeper 6 is secured to the top of the jaw I and engages the groove tohold the screw 2 in the jaw I.

A rack bar 'I is pivotally attached at 8 to the jaw I, and is providedwith a central longitudinal groove 9 extending on its inner side fromthe pivot 8. A series of rack teeth II) are rmade on the said inner sideof the bar 'I on each side of the groove 9 (Fig. 3).

The lower clamping jaw II is shaped similarly to the upper jaw I, and isprovided with a screw threaded hole I2 through which the above screw 2passes. Each side of the rear end of the clamping jaw II is cut away ona beveled line to provide a tongue I3 adapted to fit in the groove 9 ofthe rack bar 1, and to form teeth I4 with its upper angled shoulders,said teeth being adapted to engage the rack teeth Il).

As seen in Fig. 2 this clamp may be very quickly adjusted by merelyswinging the rack bar 'I out from its normal position so as to releasethe teeth I4, of the lower clamp jaw I I, from the rack teeth I0 andthen spinningthe said clamp jaw II up or down on the screw 2 until thespace between it and the upper jaw I is the desired distance forclamping the work, The rack bar 1 is then returned to its normalposition, the tongue I3 engaging the groove 9 and the teeth I4 engagingthe teeth I0. The screw 2 may then be turned to tighten the clamp. Theclamping action between the open ends of the two jaws I and II isattained by the screw 2 pulling up on the jaw II and the teeth I4pushing upward on the rack teeth III, resulting in a very strongclamping action.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a clamp, the combination of an upper jaw; a rack bar pivotedthereto, and having rack teeth formed thereon; a groove extending alongsaid rack bar and cutting the rack teeth into two parallel series; ascrew passing freely through said upper jaw; a clamping jaw threadedlyengaged intermediate its ends by said screw and adapted to engage withone of its ends the rack of said rack bar; and a tongue formed on saidone end of said clamping jaw and adapted to engage the said groove insaid rack bar, whereby said clamping jaw is held in position relativelyto said upper jaw.

2. A clamp comprising an upper jaw; a toothed rack bar pivoted to oneend thereof; a screw passing freely through said upper jaw; and aclamping jaw rotatably mounted on the threads of said screw and adaptedto engage with one end the teeth of said rack bar when said bar is innor- Lmal position, but free therefrom when said bar is swung out on itspivot away from its normal position so as to permit said jaw. to berotated on said screw for quick adjustment in relation'tol said upperjaw, whereby said clamp may be tightened by the rotation of said screwin said jaws when the clamping jaw is in engagement with the rack teeth.

PEDER M. AALBERG.

